Solar Energy System Maintenance, Resale, & Recycling
There is very little maintenance required on a PV system with no moving parts. Some system owners wash their panels, but in the Northwest, our climate tends to take care of this chore. You may want to brush off the panels if they tend to collect leaves, but other than that, your system should operate as designed with no intervention. You can also keep track of your production by reading your production meter or checking the inverter display.
Resale Value
The effect of a solar system on the appraised value of your home can be hard to predict, but according to a study by ICF Consulting, every $1,000 reduction in annual energy bills increases a home’s resale value by $10,000 to $25,000. However, homes are generally valued in comparison to similarly sized and aged homes around them, and if there aren’t many solar homes in your neighborhood, the appraiser may not have a bar to measure against.8 The market for solar homes continues to grow as energy costs increase along with an increased interest in sustainable building.
Recycling PV panels
While it will be another 10 years until the first large number of photovoltaic panels reach the end of their life, the manufacturing members of the European association, PV CYCLE, have committed to setting up a voluntary collection and recycling scheme for end-of-life modules. They are committed to collecting a minimum of 65% of PV modules installed in Europe since 1990, and to recycling 85% of waste. Europe is leading the way and since many manufactures involved in PV CYCLE do business also in the U.S., there’s potential for a similar initiative here in North America.
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Farming Principle: Deep Soil Preparation
Looking at GB as a three-legged stool, deep soil preparation is one of the legs. Deep soil preparation builds soil and soil structure by loosening the soil to a depth of 24 inches (60 cm). Ideal soil structure has both pore space for air and water to move freely and soil particles that hold together nicely.
Smart Home Ecosystem - Smart Home Automation - Smart Home Security - Smart Home Technology
The outer-most level corresponds to the individual devices and sensors that consumers interact with. Several candidates are vying for the role of a leader introducing smart home services to the mass market.
Solar Energy Systems - Solar Modules - Solar Electric System Design - Solar Power
The heart of a photovoltaic system is the solar module. Many photovoltaic cells are wired together by the manufacturer to produce a solar module. When installed at a site, solar modules are wired together in series to form strings. Strings of modules are connected in parallel to form an array.
Solar Energy Systems - Array Mounting Racks - Solar Ray - Solar Panel - PV Racks and Mounts
Arrays are most commonly mounted on roofs or on steel poles set in concrete. In certain applications, they may be mounted at ground level or on building walls. Solar modules can also be mounted to serve as part or all of a shade structure such as a patio cover. On roof-mounted systems, the PV array is typically mounted on fixed racks, parallel to t
Solar Energy Systems - Grounding Equipment
Grounding equipment provides a well-defined, low-resistance path from your system to the ground to protect your system from current surges from lightning strikes or equipment malfunctions. Grounding also stabilizes voltages and provides a common reference point. The grounding harness is usually located on the roof.
Solar Energy Systems - Solar Inverter - Solar Panel Inverter
Most grid-connected inverters can be installed outdoors, while most off-grid inverters are not weatherproof. There are essentially two types of grid-interactive inverters: those designed for use with batteries and those designed for a system without batteries.
Solar Energy Systems - Solar Disconnects
Automatic and manual safety disconnects protect the wiring and components from power surges and other equipment malfunctions. They also ensure the system can be safely shut down and system components can be removed for maintenance and repair.
Solar Energy Systems - Solar Battery Bank
Batteries store direct current electrical energy for later use. This energy storage comes at a cost, however, since batteries reduce the efficiency and output of the PV system, typically by about 10 percent for lead-acid batteries. Batteries also increase the complexity and cost of the system.
Solar Energy Systems - Solar Charge Controller
A charge controller, sometimes referred to as a photovoltaic controller or battery charger, is only necessary in systems with battery back-up. The primary function of a charge controller is to prevent overcharging of the batteries. Most also include a lowvoltage disconnect that prevents over-discharging batteries. In addition, charge controllers pr
Solar Energy Systems - The NEC and PV Systems
Solar PV systems must be installed in accordance with Article 690 of the National Electric Code, which specifically deals with PV systems, as well as several other articles of the NEC that pertain to electrical systems in general. When there is a conflict between NEC 690 and any other article, NEC 690 takes precedence due to the unique nature of PV